Where Are Hernias Located?

The most common location for hernias is the groin (or inguinal) area. There are several reasons for this tendency. First, there is a natural anatomical weakness in groin region, which results from incomplete muscle coverage. Second, the upright position of human posture results in a greater force occurs at the bottom of the abdomen (at the bottom of the barrel), thereby increasing the stress on these weaker tissues. The combination of these factors over time breaks down the support tissues enlarging any pre-existing hole, or leading to a tear, resulting in a new hole. Several different types of hernia may occur, and frequently coexist, in the groin area. These include indirect, direct, and femoral hernias, which are defined by the location of the opening of the hernia from the abdomen to the groin. Another type of hernia, called a ventral hernia, occurs in the midline of the abdomen, usually above the navel (umbilicus). This type of hernia is usually painless. Hernias can also occur within the navel (umbilical hernia).